the Kohlplatz

11

The flat area between these two landmarks , namely the Kohlplatz , is divided by an asphalted channel . This route leads directly from the Eschnerberg towards the roundabout in the south beside the industry and the petrol station which functions like a meeting point during the Corona pandemic . This Kohlplatz street is split up at the foot of the Eschnerberg into two main streets . The left street leads towards the village centre of Eschen and the right one connects the municipality with the next village , called Mauren . In addition , two neighbourhood streets flow from the Kohlpatz into the surrounding area and supply it with life . Seen from above , the road network stretches into the landscape like curvy and endless fingers . Every minute metal objects roll along these streets . Their coming is announced by their whirring noises caused by their engine and tyres . Along the streets , buildings of different sizes are lined up and define the space of the only public asphalted area . Most of these buildings consist of three-storey single-family homes with a green garden . Mainly these buildings are directly connected threw a

forecourt with the street . Some isolated four-storey apartment buildings supplement the area . Although they are similar in their basic shape , they differ in materiality . The most buildings have a simple rectangular shape , while others look like they were cut out of a block and have projections and recesses . A pitched roof always finalises these shapes like a hat . Every figure has his own hat with its own singularity . Some have just folds while others have more specific characteristics like openings in their hat , called dormers . Although it looks like all roofs are covered with the same brown-green texture you can distinguish the older buildings from the younger ones because of the patina on the roof tiles . But what gives the residential buildings the most character is the façade . They differ in colour , materiality and as well in their system . Many are just simple plastered and painted in white , grey or another colour . One special building is even painted with at least five different colours . It seems as if the owner could not decide . Some buildings are coated in wood , which have the most in singularity . Although the most openings in the area are kept simple , the frames of these wooden buildings are well decorated . The windows of the old buildings can also be closed with shutters . Then the façade appears like a permanently changed shell . Some wooden buildings are also painted in red , green , white , or blue . Another point where the newer buildings can be distinguished from the older ones is the façade system . The new buildings are mostly faceless objects . There is barely not a back and no front . There is no big difference between the elevations , while the older buildings have two faces . The main face is the extraordinary one , which looks towards the street . The less prestige elevations are on the garden side . This system of two faces creates spaces with different functions and status .

Though the buildings have numerous differences , they appear like a sort of ensemble . But especially three structures are standing out from this group . They have partly more in common with the industry than with the other buildings at the Kohlplatz .

Especially the recently constructed buildings opposite the intervention object at Kohlplatz 22 . These huge volumes are built identically and appear like twins , looking down on the other houses . Everything is within the grid . The appearance seems shaved , no hat covers the naked volume . One building lays closer to the street , maybe this is the first born . Opposite the twins and north of the interventions object stands another newly built member of this family . Because of its size it seems to be the younger sibling of the twins . In comparison to the other buildings , it is placed with its short face towards the street and the balconies are looking south .

The just mentioned buildings have been built recently . It seems like there is a small building boom going on . Despite these new houses , there are still some green open spaces at the neighbourhood such as , the large field which lies behind the first row of the buildings west of the Kohlplatz street . These lush green meadows are like a vacuum in the middle of the village . It seems as if this textured area is reserved for a higher purpose . Employees of the Presta meanwhile use this green area for a walk over the lunch time and thus also move through the Kohlplatz . Alongside the Presta employees , daycare groups and mothers with their children walk through the district throughout the day . This brings life to the area , because mainly older people tend to live there , who have lived there for a long time . However , some families are living in this region too .

But the building boom is now changing this situation . Some young people are filling up the newly built apartment buildings and a more mixed neighbourhood may arise . This could also lead to a certain potential for new meeting places within the area and whereby perhaps a community could grow up again .